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Updated: May 29, 2026

Transformation of Plasmid DNA into E. coli Using the Heat Shock Method
Published on: August 1, 2007
Bacterial transformation using micro-shock waves
G Divya Prakash1, R V Anish, G Jagadeesh
1Department of Aerospace Engineering, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560 012, India.
Abstract:
Shock waves are one of the most competent mechanisms of energy dissipation observed in nature. We have developed a novel device to generate controlled micro-shock waves using an explosive-coated polymer tube. In this study, we harnessed these controlled micro-shock waves to develop a unique bacterial transformation method. The conditions were optimized for the maximum transformation efficiency in Escherichia coli. The maximum transformation efficiency was obtained when we used a 30 cm length polymer tube, 100 μm thick metal foil, 200 mM CaCl(2), 1 ng/μl plasmid DNA concentration, and 1×10(9) cell density. The highest transformation efficiency achieved (1×10(-5) transformants/cell) was at least 10 times greater than the previously reported ultrasound-mediated transformation (1×10(-6) transformants/cell). This method was also successfully employed for the efficient and reproducible transformation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Salmonella typhimurium. This novel method of transformation was shown to be as efficient as electroporation with the added advantage of better recovery of cells, reduced cost (40 times cheaper than a commercial electroporator), and growth phase independent transformation.
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